New 24-hour Sheffield off-licence agreed

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Ellen Beardmore, Political Reporter

The businessman behind a new 24-hour off licence in Sheffield city centre has promised not to sell cheap booze.

Husnu Aslan, whose application to turn West Street sandwich shop Food to Go into the off licence was approved by Sheffield Council members on Thursday, has spoken out to reassure residents concerned about street drinking in the area.

Mr Aslan, who also runs a kebab shop and Turkish restaurant on West Street, said: “I would say I am not selling cheap drinks, four litre bottles of cider, 70 per cent alcohol or anything like that.

“I think there will not be any problems because we won’t be selling the cheap booze that causes them.

“I have been on West Street for years and we have never had any problems.”

Mr Aslan said any street drinkers congregating around the shop – which was due to open today – would also be asked to leave.

He said: “The first two weeks might be hard but after everything will be fine.”

Residents highlighted concerns the shop would increase street drinking problems on West Street in eight objections to the council’s licensing committee.

They said people were already harassed for money, subjected to noisy disputes and felt intimidated.

One said they feared the area would become a ‘no go zone’ and problems with noise and nuisance were already ‘intolerable’.

A South Yorkshire Police city centre community support officer has also urged residents not to feed drinkers congregating outside Tesco on West Street, as police are trying to move them on.